Day 7

--Bureau of Engraving and Printing: saw how money is made (quite interesting), stood next to $1 million (in 20s).

--National Mall Junior Ranger certifications: the kids worked on their packets for a few days, answering questions and learning about the monuments on the Mall, so they got their badges,a certificate, and a bouncy world ball (a fabulous toy for walking around a busy town).

--Washington Monument: got tickets, rode the elevator to the top, the day was beautiful and clear, had lunch in the shadow of the Monument, played ball and laughed.

--National Art Gallery (fine and modern art): we didn't spend a great deal of time here, Zachary suggested that the sculptors were perverts and Anna was uncomfortable with the immodesty in the paintings. Jeremy would've like to have spent a little more time there, inasmuch as he's studied art history. The underground walkway was very creative (last picture).

--National Air & Space: we went back to spend some more time in the stars and outer space exhibits which the kids really loved.

Day 6

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Civil war cavalry reenactment (super cool!), movie, cinema-in-the-round, museum, auto tour of Gettysburg, history, stories, cannons, monuments (over 1300 of 'em), Junior Ranger program (it included hard questions!), nice picnic, very full day. When reflecting on the day, Griffin said "I didn't laugh at all today." We had a good time.

Day 5

Mt. Vernon, President George Washington's home
Fall Colonial Festival: we met George Washington, Martha ("everyone calls me Patsy") Washington, the lace maker ("You shall be my lace makers because you are poor, I will pay you a penny a week." "We're not poor." "Of course you're poor, look at you!"), the housekeeper ("Dinner will be served at 3 of the clock"), the rat catcher ("I've only caught 16 today"), a broom maker, a potter, soldiers, scouts, privates, infantry, a sword swallowing fire breathing entertainer, camp followers, laundry ladies, dress makers, weavers, spinners, musicians, a blacksmith, and a surveyor. We took a boat ride on the Potomac River, saw a reenactment, observed the garden and out buildings, toured the mansion, visited the tomb, and wandered the museum. It was a hands on, fabulous day!

Day 4

--White House tour
--National Mall: World War II Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean Memorial, Roosevelt Memorial, Constitution Day, Jefferson Memorial (a LOT of walking, but pretty dang cool)

Day 3

--National Archives: Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Constitution
--National Sculpture Garden: lunch, cool fountain, bizarre "art" sculptures
--National Air & Space Museum: planes (commercial, military, WWI, record breaking, Amelia Earhart's red, Spirit of St. Louis), rockets, Space Stations, lunar crawlers, Apollo craft, paper airplane contest, Wright Flyer (super cool!)
--Mall: frisbee in the warm rain, completely and insanely memorable!

Day 2

We took our first ride on the Metro. The kids thought it was pretty cool, and it was. We went on a tour of the National Capitol with an intern from Congressman Jason Chaffetz' office. The rotunda was a powerful sight and we stood on the star in the center of the Capitol (and the original center of the city).

Next we went to the Library of Congress. The architecture was beautiful, and we saw a collection from Thomas Jefferson's library.















We spent a few minutes at the Supreme Court.








We walked to Union Station, another cool place.

Day 1

Our plane left at 6:55 a.m. This was the first airplane adventure for them and they loved it! I was fun to watch the kids be responsible for their own luggage, boarding passes, and carry-on stuff. They seemed very grown up. The pilot let the boys sit in the cockpit and explained how some of the instruments work. Griffin said the best thing about the plane ride was the sprite, Zachary liked the roller coaster feeling.


















































We arrived in Baltimore mid-afternoon and enjoyed dinner with my sister, Mindy, and her family. Then we went to the Washington, D.C. temple. It's a very commanding, beautiful temple. We walked on the nature trail and saw deer and then spent a bit of time in the Visitors Center.

first day of kindergarten

Wow, Jane is in kindergarten all day. I miss her. Lincoln misses her. She is loving it. She is in her element. She is following all of the rules, has new crayons, and already has two best friends (and one "sort of" best friend, but only because he goes to church at the same time as her).

first day of school

On the first day of school, the kids got to shake hands with the principal, give Sharky a high-five, and walk in on the red carpet. School is going well, the kids have good teachers, and we're walking to and from school most days. I appreciate the structure of school and the way it helps us to manage our time.